Taxi Driver Online

Taxis used as getaway cars - warning


TAXI drivers are being warned to be on their guard against thieves using them as unwitting getaway drivers.


Fliers are being posted around taxi offices and mosques to warn drivers about thieves, and asking them to look out for suspicious-looking loot.

The warning comes from Insp Dave Barnett, who said the aim was to stop thieves getting away by road: “Thieves and burglars use many types of transport, but as road policing initiatives are designed to deny criminals the use of the roads, it is becoming riskier for burglars to use their own vehicles.

“Using what appear to be legitimate vehicles with no linked intelligence means that historically taxis and private hire vehicles are less likely to be stopped by the police reacting to the report of a recent burglary.”

Insp Barnett said with the current ‘must-haves’ being small electrical items, such as laptops, iPads, games consoles and smart phones, it was easy for them to conceal them from taxi drivers.

“Add cash and jewellery to that list and you’ll see how easy it would be to remove large value goods discreetly,” he added.

“I’m also sure that any thief would be able to think of a plausible reason for carrying a large item like an LCD TV, but these are the sort of things we are asking the drivers to look out for and report their suspicions.”

Kirklees Hackney Carriage Association secretary Akooji Badad said it was often easy to spot a thief getting into a taxi, but the trouble was reporting them without putting a driver at risk.

He said: “Crooks are always wanting taxi drivers to transport them. The obvious things we can look out for is the type of baggage they come with, sometimes people put things in the boot we know isn’t their usual furniture.

“Usually we would transport these people, but then report it to the police as soon as we can. Obviously we have to be careful about how they would react if we treated them any differently from a usual customer.”

Insp Barnett said it was important drivers used common sense in reporting suspicious behaviour, and contact the police

http://www.mirfieldreporter.co.uk/news/ ... _1_4116596

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

I had a (lightweight) experience of this.....

a couple got in (private hire and booked by mobile) said wanted to go to a destination, but stop at a city shop (rear carpark) to pick up some stuff bought earlier.

sounded legit and reasonable.

when arrived in carpark (teatime, winter darkness) wa told "better turn car so facing outwards"
That was the first inkling something was being controlled from their own heads.
I said it was more preferable to wait where was.... as was just waiting and not parking, this was best position.

When chap came out of store he was focused. when he got into front seat he rammed the bag he was holding against my hand on gear stick.... I thought both these observations were suspicious.
Pulling away, I slowly made a circle in the car park.... then spotted a group of stores people coming out of store.
The chap in the front was intense and said "needed to go"
I remained slow and the arc of the car met the group of stores people
The chap went hyper intense "go"
I quietly said I could not do that and gently stopped the vehicle.

The atmosphere in the car was not violent..... but the intensity of the potential was incredible.
I quietly said "this is just a taxi mate" and engaged the store people.
He locked his door and intensly said to go.
I quietly said "can't do that. you need to sort this out. you need to leave the car.

The atmosphere showed no violent reaction.... but the intensity of the potential was still incrediable.
"I cannot drive away. you have to go with them"
4 or 5 seconds of 'trigger or diffuse' was rewarded with.... diffuse.
He calmly got out.

The other person who had waited in the car, in the back seats, politely paid the fare

the other one to watch for are drug runs ! Quite a lot of cabbies down here have picked up wait and returns to grotsville over the years. drivers are usually happy as larry cause its a £50 fare but i'm not sure what would happen if they got caught in a police sting. it may be true that your punters haven't told you what they are up to BUT as the saying goes ignorance is no defence in a court of law

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Had a driver at my old firm who used to drive around a dealer, got stopped, nicked(then released) car conviscated for over a year.

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stressed controller!!!